Misery - Who is to blame for this?

I attended the matinee performance of Misery on January 30. Perhaps this was an anomaly, but there was sustained laughter from the audience at every critical moment in the play. Moments that were definitely not meant to be funny... I don't want to give away any spoilers. For a production that bills itself as a thriller, this seems like an epic fail. I'm not an expert, so my question is "Who's fault is this?" The director? The actors?

It is a mediocre show but it is largely a dark comedy; there's always an element of that with Stephen King. The laughter is not bad.

Scarywarhol said: "It is a mediocre show but it is largely a dark comedy; there's always an element of that with Stephen King. The laughter is not bad.

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I have always viewed the film version as a black comedy. I always assumed it was written and directed that way on purpose. Sure, the suspense is there too, but the comedy lies just under the surface throughout most of the film. The balance is carefully maintained, and I think that is what makes it so much fun to watch. Knowing the play and screenplay are written by the same person, I would hope this intent carried over to the stage.

SPOILERS SORTA INCLUDED:

I get all that, but a LOT of it still seemed like inappropriate/nervous laughter from people who don't know how to behave in public.

When ______ is suddenly shot, the matinee audience didn't gasp or anything. They roared with laughter and cheered, holding up the show for 60-90 seconds laughing and talking. People literally talking in full-voice to each other about it while not just giggling -- guffawing. Was so surreal. Might have just been ****ty timing on my part and other performances are that bad, but it was sooooo odd.

That was not my experience when I saw the show. Sounds strange.

GavestonPS said: "^^^^^ I think that's called laughing from the release of nervous tension. It's an involuntary response."

I'm obviously not getting this across adequately...haha... I DO get the concept of tension response/release. But this was people talking & laughing w/ the rows behind them, chatting full-voice to people in the same row but 3-4 seats away. And think how long a minute+ actually is: it seemed to go on for just a ridiculous amount of time. I think grown-ass adults should be able to compose themselves a BIT faster than that. Still blaming it on the crowd being largely made up of folks not used to seeing live theater -- or things outside their own living room bubble.

Saw the show today. I agree that Laurie Metcalf was great. I very much disagree with blaming the audience for laughing. Annie is such an over the top character that the Paul Sheldon character has to balance that out. Unfortunately Bruce Willis was flat flat flat. The only tension was when people saw Paul tied to the bed and knew what was coming. To be honest I don't think I've ever been to a comedy that got this much laughter and today too the audience roared with laughter at the gunshot when they should have been shocked. That part should have been staged differently to be effective. I would be more likely to place the blame on the director and Bruce Willis for the show not working as it should.

Aside from Misery's shortcomings, Jessica Tandy and Marlon Brando used to be disheartened by the nightly audible laughter during the rape scene in the original production of "A Streetcar Named Desire."

This is nothing new. Some audience members can't process a mature reaction to violence on stage, happening right in front of them. So they giggle and titter and laugh.